Protector for linemen&#39;s rubber gloves



garb 28, 1941 T. R. CLAFFY PROTECTOR FOR LINEMENS RUBBER GLOVES @Za/Xg Cil Patented `fan. 28, 1941 PATENT oFFI-CE Pao'rsc'ron non LINEMENs RUBBER GLOV Thomas R. Claffy, Chicago, Ill.- p

Application March 13,

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to protector gloves which are used by linemen `and others for safety in working with power lines. It is customary for the linemen to wear rubber gloves for protection against the high voltage of the conductors of a power line. One fundamental factor of safety which is agreed to by practically all authorities on the subject is that leatherprotectors must be worn over the rubber gloves. The necessity for the leather protector lies in preventing accidental snagging or injury to the rubber glove which would destroy its insulating value at some point. Also, the leather protector takes the wear that would otherwise be directly upon the rubber gloves. The rubber gloves are quite expensive and a substantial reduction in expense over a period of time may be had by using the leather protectors.

Heretofore, it has been customary to use a leather protector glove over the usual rubber glove. The leather glove, however, must be regarded as an electrical conductor. This is especially true when the leather is wet or covered with the grime that results in ordinary usage. Therefore, it has always been considered neces:-

sary, in order to prevent current leakage from the leather to the forearm, to leave the upper part of the rubber gauntlet exposed for a substantial distance above the leather glove. This unprotected area of the rubber glove is located just above the wrist and is in one of the most vulnerable spots, insofar as snags are concerned. It is evident that if the culic portion of the rubber glove is snagged and torn, the forearm is eX- posed to current discharge.

The present invention contemplates a novel protector glove which protects thev entire rubber glove, including the cui portion, from mechanical injury and wear. Further, my invention contemplates a protector glove that provides additional electrical insulation at the wrist and forearm where the greatest danger of snags and tears exists. To accomplish the foregoing results, I provide a leather protector glove having a novel cuff structure which extends over the full length of the cuff or gauntlet part of the rubber glove. This rubber cuff is'` combined with va leather glove in such fashion as to protect the wrist against snags and tears. The protection is also extended vto the stitching which connects the rubber cuff with the leather glove.

The features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawing where- 1939', Serial N0. 261,583

in a preferred form of the invention is shown. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing and description are illustrative only, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention, except in'- sofarv vas itis limited bythe claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a glove assembly embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view'on an enlarged scale, the section being taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the'line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. l1, but showing only the cui portion of the protector glove.

Referring now to the drawing, the present invention is embodied in a linemens glove. Linemens gloves hertofore have consisted of an inner rubber glove and an outer leather glove acting to protect the hand and wrist portion of the rubber glove. In the drawing, the rub-ber glove is shown at 5. This glove has a gauntlet portion 6 which terminates in a beaded open end 1. The rubber glove is made from high grade rubber, so as to be capable o-f withstanding high voltages and resisting snags and tears.

The glove 5 is encased in a protector glove 8 which is composed of a leather hand portion 9 and a cuff portion I0. The specific details of the construction of the leather hand portion 9 are of no particular importance. The cuff portion I and its connection to the leather portion 9 are, however, very important in obtaining proper protection for the linemen and adequate Wearing characteristics. The cuff I0 is reinforced by a fabric layer II the fabric being a heavy duck fabric which, as shown in Fig. 3, is molded between two layers I2 and I3 of rubber. At the side edges of the cuff I0, the fabric II is enclosed in ribs I4 and I5. These ribs are opposed by inner ribs I6 and Il. The ribs just described strengthen the culi and aid in giving it sufficient rigidity to lenable it to retain its shape in use. Furthermore, these ribs prevent any leakage at the point Ia, where the duck fabric is folded, and the point Ma, Where its edges meet.

The cuff IIJ is seWed to the leather hand portion 9 by two rows of stitching I8 and I9. These rows of stitching are protected by raised beads 20 and 2I that are formed on the end of the cuff. The beads are placed close to the stitching and are of suicient height to protect the stitching from the usual wear on the surface of the glove.

In order to further protect the wearer of the glove, that portion of the cuff I0 which is immediately inside the wrist of the wearer is provided with an extra layer or thickness of rubber shown at 22. This layer joins the bead 20 and is merged into the body of the cui by a long tapering surface 23.

The entire cui is made of a tough, voltageresisting rubber With the duck fabric I l inserted therein. The cul is molded under high pressure into a single, seamless piece, oval-shaped in cross section. It is designed large enough to lit over the coat and sweater sleeves. The length of the cuff is just slightly less than the length of the cuff 'l on the rubber glove. A bead edge 24 is preferably provided around the upper edge of the cuff I0.

It is believed to be clear from the foregoing description that I have provided a protector glove construction which gives full protection to the linemens rubber glove, with additional strength and safety at the Wrist and forearm. This protector glove, moreover, avoids the difficulty heretofore encountered in using leather gloves over rubber gloves by protecting the wrist and the forearm and at the same time preventing current leakage from the leather over the gauntlet of the rubber glove. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A protector glove for linemens rubber gloves, said glove comprising a hand portion and a cuff portion, said culi portion being composed of rubber, said cuff portion being lapped over the hand portion and secured to the hand portion by stitching, the cuff portion having raised portions extending alongside the stitching and projecting outwardly beyond the stitching thereby protecting the stitching from Wear.

2. A protector glove for linemens rubbergloves comprising a hand portion of leather and a cui portion composed of a shape-retaining, seamless piece of molded rubber, said cul portion being extended over the leather hand portion and sewed to it, said cui portion having raised protecting beads extending alongside the stitching by which the cuff is sewed to the hand portion, said cuff portion having a thickened part immediately adjacent to the palm part of the hand portion, said thickened part merging with one of said protecting beads.

THOMAS R. CLAFFY. 

